The Gigspanner Big Band is a collective of at least three different bands, Gigspanner itself, Edgelarks, and also joined by ‘Squeezy’ John Spiers via the Knight and Spiers connection. All formidable in their own rights yet somehow seems to create more than the sum of their parts when they come together in this guise. This may sound a bit of a cliché, but they just seem to gel as musicians.

Tonight’s gig is part of a tour to promote the new album ‘Turnstone’, which is well worth a listen itself, the first 3 songs of the evening being taken from it. Peter initially playing with Hannah’s vocals joining him, before the whole band join in. This being a still very much active church the acoustics suit the music perfectly allowing it to flow and totally fill the room with a joyous sound.  The songs build in layers, which draws you into every track.

As with most folk bands, the range of instruments is something to behold. Within a few songs we’ve had guitars, banjos, percussion, violins, slide guitars and of course some of John’s ranges of melodeons, it’s practically a mini orchestra. Next up was an older one, Haul on the Bowline’, though it didn’t quite make the singalong that John suggested. Possibly a more reserved, but still passionate crowd tonight.

It was fascinating to hear the process they use to arrange the songs, all working long hours to perfect the tunes. So always good when someone comes in with one with 18 verses, but well worth the effort with the version of ‘Hind Horn’ . For those wondering, a gigspanner is a bottle opener, also known as a church key, so fitting all round tonight. ‘Hard Times Come Again No More’ ends the first half, a sadder number but ending in an more uplifting jig.

Twenty minutes later, the “hard times” possibly foreshadowing the queueing for one of the two toilets for three hundred people, the band re-appeared. ‘What Wondrous Love/Sweet Highland Mary’ was a mix of tunes from an American tune Peter was working on, and a Morris tune from the village that John’s family came from. The album being probably the first time it was heard in public since the 1800’s. Wonderful that long lost melodies can be given a new lease of life.

‘Courting is a Pleasure’ is an absolute pleasure to listen to. Featuring impressive solos by Peter on violin and Phillip on slide guitar that even the band seemed to be captivated by.  Despite them must having seen them many times before, respect and admiration for their band mates. In fact, each member gets their own equally impressive solos over the closing numbers. A reminder of where we started that this truly is a collective bringing their own talents to the party. Too often it’s easy to use hyperbole in these reviews, but tonight is one that really deserves it, as it was wonderous and memorising.